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It's been nearly a year since Arlington launches its first-ever transit system and new figures show it's been a success. The Metro Arlington Express or MAX is a bus service that takes riders between the Univesity of Texas at Arlington and the Trinity Railway Express station at Centreport. (Published Monday, Jun 30, 2014)

Updated at 10:33 AM CST on Tuesday, Jul 1, 2014

It’s been nearly a year since Arlington launched its first ever public transit service — and according to the latest numbers, it’s rolling.

The Metro Arlington Xpress — or MAX — is a bus service that takes riders between the University of Texas at Arlington and the Trinity Railway Express station at CentrePort near Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport.

“It’s really good,” said Rusty Williams, who rides the MAX. “It’s convenient. I work in Fort Worth and live over here [in Arlington] with my parents and grandparents. So, I ride it back-and-forth a lot.”

Williams has used the MAX since it began operating in August 2013 and an increasing number of people are joining him.

City officials had initially hoped the MAX would provide an average of 250 trips per day each month. They’ve exceeded that goal every month this year, peaking in mid-June at more than 400 trips per day.

“We’ve actually been quite pleased with the progress we’re seeing with MAX,” said Sana Syed, spokeswoman for the City of Arlington.

According to a recent survey of riders, more than 85 percent of people who use the MAX are full-time employees or UT-Arlington students and 50 percent of riders use the service five days a week.

Because the MAX is running under a two-year pilot program, however, there are no immediate plans to expand the service beyond its three stops or into the weekend.

“At the end of the two years, we will then go back and evaluate to see how we will be moving forward,” said Syed. “But right now, it’s just too early to say.”

Williams hopes the city keeps its foot on the accelerator.

“I think they would benefit from it, more than it would hurt them,” said Williams.

For more information about the MAX, fares, and schedules visit their website.